Every week is a busy week when it comes to Disney news. To help you keep up with all the updates coming out of Walt Disney World and other Disney resorts, here’s WDWNT’s weekly recap of the Disney news from June 29 – July 5.

Walt Disney World

Parks

• In celebration of the fourth of July, Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle took a trip to an empty Magic Kingdom for a special flag retreat ceremony, and later visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see the socially-distanced river entertainment and modifications to the Wilderness Explorer experience offerings
• Thanks to aerial photos, we got a look at the entrances to all four parks, giving us a view of the social distancing markers, screening tents and more, all part of the new arrival experiences at the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT
• Oga’s Cantina has been re-added to the list of restaurants set to open at Walt Disney World at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15. Also set to reopen is Garden Grill in EPCOT, however with a modified character dining experience
• In response to questions asked by fans on Twitter, Imagineer Joe Rohde discussed the complex nature of fixing the Yeti within the Expedition Everest attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, including construction updates, patriotic displays, and more
• Tickets are now on sale for Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life”, with the debut performance scheduled for November 5, despite the company having filed for bankruptcy
• Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC has made the decision to temporarily reduce their operating hours at their Disney Springs location
• The reusable shopping bags available across stores in Walt Disney World have all been reduced to $1, for all three sizes
• We reviewed the refreshing new Frose Slush from Earl of Sandwich

• Splitsville Luxury Lanes are set to reopen on July 10, whilst AMC Theatres have delayed their reopening to July 30
• A permit has been filed for the build-out of an Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew location, while lululemon received new signage at their new location, construction walls arrived for Gideon’s Bakehouse, and more demolition took place at the new M&Ms Store
• Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian at Disney Springs are laying off over 140 employees, following slow business due to the pandemic

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

• NBA practice courts have been installed within the convention center at the resort, to be used by players staying at Gran Destino Tower

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

• We reviewed the new Red, White, and Blue Blondie Bomb Pop and Mickey’s 4^th of July Chocolate Cupcakes from Gasparilla Island Grill

Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin

• A 30% off reservations discount is being offered to Annual Passholders at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

Other Walt Disney World Reopening Announcement Updates & Guest Information

• Registration for Annual Passholder previews are now open for the park reopenings
• More availability has been added to the Disney Park Pass system, especially for resort guests
• A computer glitch on Friday caused concern for Annual Passholders, as Walt Disney World began taking four months’ worth of payments at once for those meant to be on monthly payment plans. This error has now been reversed, and affected Passholders are beginning to be refunded
• Select guests are now able to book in-park dining reservations through My Disney Experience
• Guests with canceled experience reservations are now able to book other limited experiences, including Droid Depot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Around Walt Disney World

• A full, official list of start dates was released for each mode of transportation in the resort, which will each open in turn along with the parks. We have already spotted that the Magic Kingdom ferryboats and monorail system are already undergoing testing
• It has been reported that the Walt Disney World “bubble” will be costing the NBA $1.5 million per day
• Take a look at the new, spacious, solar-powered McDonald’s location which has now opened, near the Disney’s All-Star Resorts

Other Walt Disney World News

• Rumor has it that the Minnie Van service is set to be retired throughout Walt Disney World
• The Fall 2020 Disney College Program has been suspended at Walt Disney World Resort
• There is a chance that Walt Disney World vanity license plates are coming for Florida drivers
• A video was released for cast members, emphasizing the focus on health and safety for the parks’ reopening, whilst many are returning to work to begin training on the new park procedures
• Cast members are to receive a special discount of 50% off merchandise for the reopening period through July 31, and although registration is open for cast member previews at the start of the reopenings, their theme park access has been blocked outright through September

Disneyland Resort

• Earlier in the week, Orange County announced the mandatory shut down of all indoor operations following an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases
• A cast member preview for the reopening of Downtown Disney District will be held on July 8
• The Void at Downtown Disney has been permanently shut down due to a breach in the license agreement

Disneyland Paris

• Disneyland Paris has shared a look at the social distancing and health and safety features which have been added to the resort, ready for their opening later this month
• A new 1-day dated ticket option has been introduced for the summer, which guests will not have to go through the park reservation system to guarantee admission, it’s included with the ticket
• Registration is now open for Annual Passholder reopening previews, which will take place on July 13-14
• Disneyland Paris shared a look at the construction progress on the former Catastrophe Canyon, for its transformation into the “Cars Route 66 Road Trip” attraction

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

• The “We Love Mickey” night-time projection show has resumed at Hong Kong Disneyland
• And-Man and the Wasp have debuted a socially-distant appearance at Hong Kong Disneyland

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Tokyo Disney Resort finally reopened this week to guests, with low waits in the limited-capacity park. You can watch the resort’s official reopening video here
• We took a ride on the new Mickey Mouse-themed “Type-C” monorail, which has now entered service across the resort
• More character rock work designs have been spotted at the Tokyo DisneySea construction site, where the new Fantasy Springs area will be located
• The adorable ‘Olu Mel has now joined Duffy & Friends in Tokyo DisneySea
• The official Tokyo Disney Resort app is now available in US and international app stores, which is very helpful for overseas guests planning their visit
• Take a look at the adorable new design of reusable shopping bag, which is now available at the resort

Shanghai Disneyland Resort

• A FastPass service will no longer be offered at Shanghai Disneyland, with guests having to pay for line-jumping privileges

New Merchandise

• Keep your drinks icy cool in these new Coca Cola x Walt Disney World themed tumblers
• Support your favorite cantina band with this “Star Wars” Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes band t-shirt
• Accessorize with these new Disney Parks and character-themed scrunchies and headbands
• Sparkle with these new double-sided “Peter Pan and “Winnie the Pooh” glass-blown ornaments
• Commemorate the 4^th of July with this Americana Mickey ornament

• Collectors take notice, as Country Bear Jamboree Wishables and Toy Storia Mania Wishables have arrived on to shopDisney, and we found a Wishables Mystery Pin Set in the parks
• Flash back through the decades with these new, retro-inspired Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World t-shirts
• Decorate your stuff using these new stickers, featuring Mickey Mouse, Orange Bird and more
• Treat yourself to a new Loungefly purse, choosing from either a character wristlet purse, or this classic, black and white Mickey Mouse backpack
• You’ll love this bizarre “Toy Story 4” Forky hairbrush, which we spotted grinning maniacally in Disney Springs

• Splash out on this dazzling Rose Gold Minnie Ear Duffel Bag
• Take on a chilling challenge with this new set of Stretching Room Portrait puzzles from “The Haunted Mansion”
• Over in Tokyo Disney Resort, check out the full line of “Disney Easter 2020” merchandise which will be hatching in DisneySea this month
• Add some Disney flair to your kitchen with this new “Mousewares” Mickey Mouse coffee scoop, park icon kitchen towels, or a Mickey Mouse whisk and sink strainer
• There were lots of new MagicBands to be discovered this week! We found this MARVEL Avengers Iron Man Magic Band, MagicBands commemorating 2020 Graduations and Father’s Day, and lots of all-new character designs on shopDisney
• D23 revealed the limited-edition Tiki Mickey Mouse plush for July’s “Year of the Mouse” release on Amazon
• Bring happy haunts to your fireplace with this “The Haunted Mansion” Madame Leota tombstone stocking

Entertainment and Media

• Rumor has it that Disney is looking to “erase” the latest installments in the Star Wars trilogy by Abrams and Johnson

Disney+

• “Summer Movie Nights” on Disney+ will be a weekly schedule of releases to the service and kicked off this Friday with “Hamilton”
• “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe” is set to be released on August 28

Other Disney News

• Walt Disney Imagineering has named Barbara Bouza as the new President of Business Operations, Design, and Delivery
• A mother of an autistic son has lost a court battle against Walt Disney World after a dispute over Disability Access Pass allowances
• A former cast member has been accused of stealing over $100,000 through fraudulent refunds
• Walt Disney World has won a lawsuit against an Orange County property appraiser over ‘excessive’ property taxes
• Disney has partnered with Ford for the unveiling of the new 2020 Bronco on July 13
• Walt Disney Imagineering Design + Planning Studio have developed this fun new “Disney Paper Parks” series, printable 3D model activity sheets for fans to enjoy the parks from their own homes

Editorials from WDWNT

• READER RESULTS: Favorite Attraction Queues at the Magic Kingdom

WDW News Today

Make sure you catch up on the News Today episodes from this week!

Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World Prepare for Reopening – NewsToday 7/3

Eco-Friendly Disney World McDonald’s Opens, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea Reopen – NewsToday 7/1

Cinderella Castle Will Be Ready for Magic Kingdom Reopening – NewsToday 6/29

That’s all the Disney news for this past week folks! Make sure you check back at the end of each week for our weekly recaps!